I’m going to look at a car this weekend and one of the biggest things in the back of my mind is whether it’s ever been in a wreck that the seller just isn’t talking about. I’ve bought used cars before where the ad said “clean title, never crashed,” but when I got it inspected later, the mechanic pointed out weld marks and uneven gaps that showed the frame had been bent and repaired. Once you learn the hard way, it sticks with you. This car looks fine on the outside, but the paint seems a little too shiny compared to what you’d expect for its age, and I noticed some bolts under the hood had tool marks, like they’d been removed. Maybe it was just maintenance, or maybe something bigger. That’s what I want to figure out. The seller insists it’s never been in a serious accident, but honestly that doesn’t mean much without proof. I’ve heard not every accident shows on a title, especially if insurance wasn’t involved. Some people pay out of pocket to fix damage and then flip the car later, and the next buyer has no clue. I don’t want to get stuck with a car that looks nice now but has hidden safety issues because airbags deployed or the structure was compromised years ago. Is there a reliable way to know for sure, beyond just looking at it with my own eyes or trusting the seller’s story. Have others here been able to check the real accident history before making a deal.
